DOH mulls suggesting deferment of relaxed age restriction in MGCQ areas

The Department of Health is planning to recommend the postponement of the implementation of a relaxed age restrictions in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

In a public briefing on Saturday, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the statement in light of reports that minors were among the COVID-19 cases with the coronavirus UK variant detected in the country.

“Sa ngayon na lumalabas na itong variant ay nandito, naka-apekto rin sa tatlong kabataan dito sa mga kaso sa ngayon,” she said.

“Ang amin pong iniisip na baka sakali makapag-rekumenda tayo na maaari muna nating hindi ipatupad itong pagpapalabas ng mga bata so that we can prevent more infections,” she added.

On Saturday, DOH said that seven out of the 12 cases that were found positive for the UK variant of the coronavirus in Bontoc, Mountain Province were minors as young as five and 10-years-old.

On Friday, Malacañang announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decided to ease the age-based restrictions for MGCQ areas starting February 1.

From the age range of 15 to 65 years old previously, the government will now allow people ages 10 to 65 years old to go out of their residences.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque defended the government’s decision to ease age restrictions, saying that allowing children to finally go out would be good for their well-being.

Vergeire said that the IATF decision is in consideration of balancing health and economy.

“Noong nag-meeting naman po ay ito po ay para sa ekonomiya so we'd like to balance health and economy. Yan po ang inaano ng ating IATF officials,” she said.

“Pero ang ating pong safeguard diyan kaya naman po ang DOH ay nagkaroon ng positive recommendation also during that time was because may safeguard tayo na kailangan magko-comply lahat sa minimum health standards,” she added. —LBG, GMA News